‘Great sadness’: Died Pretty singer Ron S Peno dead

Ron S Peno, frontman of Aussie alternative rock band Died Pretty, has died a month after the band were forced to cancel their next tour.

Ron S Peno, frontman of legendary Australian alternative rock band Died Pretty, has died after a years-long battle with cancer, his bandmates announced today.

Peno was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer four-and-a-half-years ago, and succumbed to the illness at home in South Yarra, Melbourne on Friday evening. His wife Charity and son Zebadiah were both present for his passing.

“For the last four and a half years as he battled cancer, Ron displayed a resolute positivity and a profound depth of character that has proved inspirational to his fellow band members, manager and many friends. In the face of adversity he was towering,” a message on the official Died Pretty Facebook page read today, titled “WITH GREAT SADNESS”.

Ron Peno (right) with Died Pretty band member Brett Myers in 2007.

“For the 40 years Ron entertained us as Died Pretty’s frontman he was never less than always charismatic. He has provided warm and enduring memories for those who shared the stage with him and for his audience. For many he is the soundtrack of their lives. He leaves us a legacy of extraordinary recordings that will continue to be treasured into the future.”

“Our hearts go out to Charity, Zebadiah and all his family and friends at this time. Ron will be sorely missed. The world will be a smaller place without him.”

Peno’s family and bandmates offered their thanks to the medical and palliative care teams who looked after him “and everyone who made a donation or sent a message of love during Ron’s time of need”.

Peno fronted Died Pretty from 1983 onwards, and before that was also a member of early punk bands the Hellcats, the 31st and Screaming Tribesmen.

Died Pretty’s latest line-up, L-R: Chris Welsh, Brett Myers, Peno, Steve Clark and John Hoey.

Died Pretty experienced their biggest commercial success in 1993 when their fifth album Trace, home to top 40 single Harness Up, hit number 11 on the charts.

But Peno would later distance himself from the album, telling Time Out magazine two years later: “I think we’re were getting a bit soft in the sound department. We were losing that hard edge.”

Died Pretty disbanded in 2002, two years after the release of their final studio album, but properly reformed in 2016 and toured regularly.

But in February 2019, it was announced that Peno had been diagnosed with esophageal cancer and future shows would be cancelled while he sought treatment.

The group experienced their biggest commercial success in the early 90s – but Peno (second from right) later disavowed the music as “a bit soft”.

The band had planned to make a live comeback with a tour booked for October this year – but the dates were cancelled last month due to both Peno’s ongoing cancer treatment, and drummer Chris Welsh’s diagnosis with lung cancer.

“Ron’s cancer fight is ongoing, and he has recently commenced further treatment that will make it impossible for him to perform in the near future,” a statement from the band read.

“Chris has recently been diagnosed with lung cancer, and his treatment schedule will also make it impossible for him to perform in the upcoming months. With both of them unavailable in October, we are forced to accept the cancellation as a necessary action to insure [sic] their health and comfort.”